Arc chute for an electrical switch

Abstract

An arc chute apparatus includes: a housing that includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an arc runner. The arc runner includes: a base portion integral with the housing and extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall; and a tab that extends from the base portion and is configured to be oriented toward an electrical contact of a switching device. The arc runner is a ferrous material. The arc chute apparatus also includes an arc guide between the first sidewall and the second sidewall; an ablative insert in the housing; and mounting features configured to hold a plurality of ferrous plates in a spaced apart arrangement in the housing between the first sidewall and the second sidewall and between the arc guide and the arc runner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An arc chute apparatus comprising:
 a housing comprising a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an arc runner, the arc runner comprising: a base portion integral with the housing and extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall; and a tab that extends from the base portion and is configured to be oriented toward an electrical contact of a switching device, wherein the arc runner comprises a ferrous material;   an arc guide between the first sidewall and the second sidewall;   an ablative insert in the housing; and   mounting features configured to hold a plurality of ferrous plates in a spaced apart arrangement in the housing between the first sidewall and the second sidewall and between the arc guide and the arc runner.   
     
     
         2 . The arc chute apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion is planar and the tab extends in a different plane than the base portion. 
     
     
         3 . The arc chute apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the tab extends perpendicularly from the base portion. 
     
     
         4 . The arc chute apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the arc guide comprises: a guide plate that extends between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and a retention portion. 
     
     
         5 . The arc chute apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ablative insert comprises a first ablative insert adjacent to the first sidewall, and a second ablative insert adjacent to the second sidewall. 
     
     
         6 . The arc chute apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the mounting features are openings in the first ablative inert and openings in the second ablative insert. 
     
     
         7 . The arc chute apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting features comprise: a first mounting plate on an inner side of the first sidewall, a second mounting plate on an inner side of the second sidewall. 
     
     
         8 . The arc chute apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate are identical and include a plurality of openings each configured to receive a mounting portion of a ferrous plate or a mounting portion of the arc guide. 
     
     
         9 . A switching device comprising:
 a first electrical contact;   a second electrical contact configured to move relative to the first electrical contact; and   an arc chute apparatus comprising:
 a housing comprising a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an arc runner, the arc runner comprising: a base portion integral with the housing and extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall; and a tab that extends from the base portion and is configured to be oriented toward one or more of the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, wherein the arc runner comprises a ferrous material. 
   
     
     
         10 . The switching device of  claim 9 , further comprising mounting features configured to hold a plurality of ferrous plates between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. 
     
     
         11 . The switching device of  claim 10 , wherein the arc chute apparatus further comprises an arc guide, and mounting features configured to hold the plurality of ferrous plates between the arc guide and the arc runner. 
     
     
         12 . The switching device of  claim 9 , wherein the arc chute apparatus is configured to be mounted to the first electrical contact. 
     
     
         13 . The switching device of  claim 9 , wherein the arc chute apparatus further comprises an ablative insert in the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The switching device of  claim 13 , wherein the ablative insert comprises a first ablative insert adjacent to the first sidewall, and a second ablative insert adjacent to the second sidewall. 
     
     
         15 . A housing assembly for an arc chute, the housing assembly comprising:
 a first sidewall;   a second sidewall;   interior mounting features configured to hold a plurality of ferrous plates between an interior side of the first sidewall and an interior side of the second sidewall; and   an arc runner comprising: a base portion and a tab that extends from the base portion, wherein an exterior of the housing assembly is configured for mounting to an electrical contact of a switching apparatus, the base portion is integrally attached to the interior side of the first sidewall and the interior side of the second sidewall, the base portion and the tab comprise a ferrous material, and the tab is configured to be positioned toward an arc generating location of the switching apparatus.   
     
     
         16 . The housing assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising an arc guide. 
     
     
         17 . The housing assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising an ablative insert. 
     
     
         18 . The housing assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the interior mounting features comprise openings in the ablative insert.